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BYZANTIUM

Stephen Lawhead

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 118 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

A magnificent adventure tale 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

This novel tells the story of Aidan, a tenth-century Irish monk who takes part in an expedition to bring the Book of Kells to the emperor in Byzantium. Before his small group of traveling companions reach the coast of France, however, they are attacked by Vikings and Aidan is carried off alone. The remainder of the book chronicles his adventures. Aidan is by turns a slave, interpreter to a king, ambassador of the emperor, suitor to an Arab lady, and again a slave. His journey brings him to distant lands and then back home, and along the way Aidan loses - and then rediscovers - his faith. This novel is truly wonderful.

Cheesy fantasy posing as historical fiction 2 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

This book was readable but fairly unintelligent. Many others have already discussed the abounding historical inaccuracies so I will just skip that information. It was a lot like a poorly written fantasy book. There were cool warrior barbarians, sophisticated Eastern peoples, and dilluted, greedy, all-powerful bad guys. The uber-pansy, ultra smart, yet naive main character somehow survives countless hazardous situations and traverses most of the known world at the time starting as a simple monk in Ireland. There is even a contrived love story with an exotic woman. It was amazing how everyone somehow allowed the main character to live. The plot was unbelievable and there was really no character development. The changes in the main character were sudden and inexplicable. Aidan, the monk, also did not behave or think like a 10th century monk. Many of the characters did not seem to fit their roles and the religions used to advance the plot were misinforming. It was slightly interesting and not a bore to read, hence the two stars.

The Silver Hand: Book Two in The Song of Albion Trilogy

Stephen R. Lawhead

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 22 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Awesome 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

I love Trilogies and when I saw all three of the Song of Albion series on sale together I decided to give them a try. I had never read SRL before, but the concept of this series really caught my attention. Needless to say I was hooked. I have since read just about everything SRL has written, since March!

As may have been mentioned before, the book takes a little while to get started (most Lawhead's books do), but it was all necessary backround and character development. I guess he could have just created a "time machine", but that wouldn't have been anywhere nearly as interesting a storyline Lawhead has created here. Part Fantasy, part historical fiction/speculation, I found this whole series both entertaining and educational and really created a good foundation for his other Celtic based storylines (i.e. Pendragon series, Hood, Celtic Crusades etc.)

I would definetly start with the first book, The Paradise War, since this is a "true" trilogy, meaning it was meant to be a series right from the start and one book builds on the next with no "real" ending until the final chapter of the last book. The good thing is, the whole trilogy is complete and you don't have to wait for the next book in the series to be written. I read one book right after the other in about a week. I don't know if it's just because this is first series of Lawhead's I read or what, but this is still my favorite SRL series, one which no doubt I will re-read more than once.

Editorial Review:

The great king, Meldryn Mawr, is dead, and his kingdom lies in ruins. Treachery and brutality rule the land, and Albion is the scene of an epic struggle for the throne. Lewis Gillies returns as Llew, seeking the true meaning behind a mysterious prophecy--the making of a true king and the revealing of a long awaited champion: Silver Hand.

The ancient Celts admitted no spearation between this world and the Otherworld: the two were delicately interwoven, each dependent on the other. The Silver Hand crosses the thin places between this world and that, as Lewis Gillies seeks to learn the secret of the prophecy of The Silver Hand--and to save Albion before it is too late.

Winds of Fate (The Mage Winds, Book 1)

Mercedes Lackey

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 49 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

It's...Okay 3 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

I read all three books in this series, and Skif's...uh...'emotions' were akin to one such as a uncastrated dog who smells a female in heat. That was very irritating considering he did this two or three times before giving up.
Gwena irritated me more then Elspeth personally, and the gryphons were highly likeable. The Tayledras and Shin'a'In were very interesting cultures and Mornelithe Falconsbane was a very hate-able evil guy.
I agree with what someone said about the 'crash course' so-to-speak of becoming an Adept, that it should have taken her much longer, and the meet-Darkwind-who-automatically-likes-her thing was very stereotypical as well.

Good book spattered with irritating logical contradictions. 4 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

This book really does make for exciting and somewhat fearful reading with the introduction of the arch-adept bloodmage 'Falconsbane' into the picture and how he nearly comes to destroy the Sheyna Tayledras community.

The plot is good and there are a couple of of twists and turns that aren't entirely expected. Overall rather charming reading.

However, some contradictions truly do destroy the pleasure of reading this story:
- AFAIK Companions technically _cannot_ be affected by direct magic. They are immune to magic strikes unless there is an embedded body spell. (mentioned in the herald mage series). So, how did they get affected by direct energy strikes merrily thrown by Falconsbane?
-Skif is supposed to be wordly-wise and mature (Arrows of the Queen). Why does he suddenly decide to behave like a stupid dog-in-heat while accompanying Elspeth? I was wincing all the time at this sudden change in his personality.
-The HORRIBLE tendency of every bloody character to sound like the other (with the possible exception of the Taleydras), when they constantly refer to each other using pet nicknames. Mercedes Lackey (I will *not* call her misty) simply has to get rid of this fundamental flaw in her writing. Its supremely irritating! Here we have Elspeth making a *formal* speech to the Valdemar Council and she refers to Kerowyn as 'Kero' 4 times in that speech....aargh.

Editorial Review:

With the realm at risk, Elspeth, herald and heir to the throne, abandons her home to find a mentor who can awaken her untrained mage abilities. Reprint.

By the Sword (Kerowyn's Tale)

Mercedes Lackey

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 64 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Never enough Valdemar 4 out of 5 stars.
1 of 2 people found this review helpful.

I have read just about every book Mercedes Lackey has written about Valdemar and the Heralds. It isn't possible for her to write too many of these tales. And the more she writes, the better the story becomes. There is such a richness of detail that you feel you are right there in the story. When you put the book down, you still wish you were there and can't wait to find out what happens next.
Kerowyn's Tale is just one more piece of the wonderful puzzle that is Valdemar and all the surrounding countries and cultures.

One of her best 4 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

One of her best, and a nice long book to boot. While she does get bogged down in some typical Lackey weaknesses (excessive internal dialogue, for one) the action keeps coming and the central character, Kerowyn, goes through a great deal of realistic personal growth.
I read this around the same time that I read the Paksenarrion series by Elizabeth Moon (also fantasy featuring a female mercenary soldier), and wondered if Lackey had been inspired by Moon. Moon does it better, thanks to her own military background, but Lackey deals inventively with her fantasy world and the ways in which magic can aid soldiers in their daily endeavors.

Grail (The Pendragon Cycle, Book 5)

Stephen R. Lawhead

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 33 Average rating: 3.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

The legend of King Arthur has been told many times--but never with the strength and resonance, passion and richness granted it in Stephen R. Lawhead's masterful

PENDRAGON CYCLE

Drought, plague, and war have left the Isle of the Mighty battered and its heart, the beloved Arthur, grievously injured--until a secret relic is brought before the dying KIng; a Holy Grail that heals his wounds and restores his vigor.

But soon evil enters the royal court in the guise of a beautiful maiden; a soulless, malevolent force capable of seducing the King's loyal champion, confounding the sage whom some call Merlin, and carrying the sacred Grail--and Arthur's adored Queen--off into the dark unknown. And now Arthur faces the greatest challenge of his sovererignty: a quest of recovery that must lead the noble liege through realms of magic and the undead, on a trail that winds inexorably toward a grim confrontation with his most foul nemesis . . . and his destiny.

Drought, plague and war have left the Isle of Mighty battered and its heart, the beloved Arthur, grievously injured. But, astonishingly, the High King lives--his wounds healed and vigor restored by a sacred and secret relic: the Holy Grail.At Ynys Avallach, a dying Arthur was miraculously renewed. And now, in this time of rampant disease and death, the great king wants to share the Grail's curative powers with all who require it. A shrine will be built to house the holy treasure--and Arthur's fabled Kingdom of Summer will at long last come to be.But evil has entered the royal court in the guise of a beautiful maiden. Unbeknownst to Arthur, to his devoted warriors, to his adored Gwenhwyvar. . .even to the bard Myrddrin, the sage Emrys whom some have called "Merlin," malevolent forces, soulless and cunning, seduce the King's most loyal champion. And in an unthinkable unguarded moment, the Grail is carried off, vanishing somewhere into the dark unknown.Now Arthur faces the greatest challenge of his sovereig

Catwoman: When in Rome (Batman)

Jeph Loeb

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 16 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Loeb and Sale do it again 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

Loeb is one of our greatest comic book writers,especially when it comes to Batman. He'skinda making our hero into something new, much more believable. Loeb and Sale's classic story (where their reputation rests) is the early Batman stories, like The Long Halloween, which features Catwoman quite prominently, though she does disappear. This is the story of her time gone from TLH, in Rome. We learn a lot about Selina Kyle. It seems Loeb's influence is heavily on her as well as many of the other Batman characters.

Saving the best for last 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

When we last saw Catwoman at the end of Dark Victory, we had learned of the possibility that Carmine Falcone was her father. In this followup, the last of Jeph Loeb's very successful trilogy that started with The Long Halloween, we find Selina in Rome searching for the answers to this mystery. Accompanying her on this roller coaster journey is one Mr. Edward Nigma, aka The Riddler, who ably and humorously provides the fodder for Selina's many acid tongued barbs, and as we eventually find out later in the story, much, much more. From the intriguing plotline to the witty one-liners and Selina's insightful and engaging internal monologue, this tale fires on all cylinders. Loeb's love for Catwoman is obvious, with his extensive use of her in all of his Battales, and who can blame him. Her star power shines brightly throughout them all by the sheer force of her multifaceted and magnetic personality. Loeb delivers, for a delightful change, a fairly wordy script that isn't the rapid read that his two previous installments of this ongoing saga, especially TLH, were and in the process delivers his most exceptional work yet. Most sequels usually end up as pale and disappointing imitations of the original, but he has bucked that trend with this series that exhibited improvements with each installment, culminating here with his grand finale. His place in the Batman pantheon of writers was cemented with these books, and while he may be currently writing for Marvel, here is one fan who would like to see him weave his magic one more time with the Bat and the Cat.

Editorial Review:

The acclaimed, Eisner award-winning team of writer Jeph Loeb and artist Tim Sale return to Gotham City, home of Catwoman, for a tale that takes the Feline Fatale into a dangerous new realm.

WHEN IN ROME chronicles Catwoman's mysterious trip to Italy and her dealings with the deadly Falcone crime family. It's a colorful tale of Gotham's sexiest cat burglar at her most intriguing.

Spider-man: The Ultimate Guide

Tom DeFalco

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 33 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

My kids love it! 5 out of 5 stars.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful.

We bought this book for our five year old who loves Spiderman, but our whole family has enjoyed learning more about the villains and other characters in Spidey's world. It is fun to learn the origin of characters we are familiar with and some we had never heard of before. There are lots and lots of illustrations to keep the kids' attention, and the stories and bios are interesting enough for adults as well. The binding has fallen apart on our book- which may have survived better under normal wear and tear- but that is mostly because my son takes it to bed with him since he loves this book so much. Overall, a great book for kids and adults too.

Editorial Review:

Enter the world of your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man! Ever since he was bitten by a radioactive spider & transformed into the amazing Spider-Man, Peter Parker has been astounding comic-book fans with his breathtaking acrobatics, as well as his battles against a host of villains, such as the Green Goblin, Doctor Octopus, the Rhino, & Venom. This book, filled with full-color illustrations, brings you everything you ever wanted to know about the wall-crawler, including the thrilling events & personalities that have shaped the life of one of the world's best-known comic-book characters. Includes a Foreword by Stan Lee, the creator of Spider-Man & other characters for Marvel comics. Oversize; heavy-coated stock.

Aerie (The Dragon Jousters, Book 4)

Mercedes Lackey

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 22 Average rating: 3.5 of 5

The End (But we thought it was already over) 3 out of 5 stars.
1 of 2 people found this review helpful.

Mercedes Lackey is a master story teller who can keep the reader turning pages and there is a certain sense of completion in this conclusion of Kiron's tale. While there are wonderful elements in this fantasy, such as his reunion with his mother and his quest in the deep desert, what is being worked out is leftover themes from the previous books. The tight focus on Kiron's struggles is no longer possible, because in this book he has "made it" and the reader feels less of a sense of urgency as a result.

This is an optional book. The series started by Joust, continued in Alta and last seen in Sanctuary came to a fully satisfactory conclusion in that last book. If you decide to skip this one, you won't miss anything critical. But if you read Aerie, you'll have a good time.

Editorial Review:

In the fourth and final novel of Mercedes Lackey's Dragon Jousters series, Kiron, the man who had once been a dragon-boy called Vetch, has united the dragon riders and managed to rid their world of both war and magical domination. But are the evil Magi really gone for good? As Kiron tries to build a new civilization at the site of an abandoned cliff dweller's city, called Aerie, conflicts arise, and he soon realizes there is a vast conspiracy at work, which includes individuals who have infiltrated every walk of life-even his own family. Once the heads of the Magi, these conspirators are determined to regain their sinister control.

Magic's Price (The Last Herald-Mage Series, Book 3)

Mercedes Lackey

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 101 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

An Utterly Engrossing Series! 5 out of 5 stars.
4 of 6 people found this review helpful.

I picked up this series because I was in the process of writing a fantasy novel with a gay hero and I wanted to see what other works were out there. I had never read Ms. Lackey's work, so I didn't know what to expect. I was not just pleasantly surprised by this trilogy, I was completely captivated by it and very sad when I reached the final page. The plot is interesting and the pace is quick. The characters, especially the hero Vanyel, are extremely sympathetic, primarily due to the fact that they are so flawed. Some may find the romance a bit sappy, but I'm the first to admit that I dig that kind of thing and you'll see it in my own novels as well.Orphan's Quest (Chronicles of Firma, Book One) Best of all for me, though, was the fact that although her hero is unapologetically gay, the series does not become mired in its "gayness" as so many other works of gay-themed fiction I have read.

This trilogy gave me a great deal of inspiration to push on with my own fantasy aspirations. I owe Misty a big hug if we ever meet face to face. I highly recommend these three books. Whether you're gay or straight, you'll find them an excellent read and, like me, you'll be sorry to reach that last page.

Editorial Review:

The final chapter in Mercedes Lackey's spellbinding fantasy trilogy! The Herald-Mage, Vanyel, and his Companion, Yfandes, are alone responsible for saving the once-peaceful kingdom of Valdemar from the forces of a master who wields a dark, forbidding magic. And if either Vanyel or Yfandes falters, both Valdemar and its Herald-Mage must pay the ultimate price. Original.

Winds of Change (The Mage Winds, Book 2)

Mercedes Lackey

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 25 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Not as action-packed as other Lackey books 3 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

Winds of Change is a necessary read for the fan of the "Winds" series or the Valdemar world in general. I enjoyed seeing Elspeth mature and develop as a character, and some of the developments were pleasantly unexpected. But as far as the action and story-flow of this book went, I often found myself impatient, and even tempted to skip a few pages here and there (gasp!). In this book, Lackey mostly advances the story by having characters TALK about what's happening, instead of SHOWING us what's happening. Characters discuss with one another the plans they are making, then discuss the plans with other characters, and then reveal the plans to even more characters. I've never seen so many Council meetings and planning meetings in one book! And I was frustrated by how much unneeded exposition was woven into the dialogue - characters explaining things to each other that we either already knew or would find out anyway. I found the climax at the end to be predictable and actually quite ANTI-climactic. Don't get me wrong, I'm a Lackey fan, and let's face it, the only people who are going to read this book are people who are following the series anyway... I'm NOT suggesting you should skip it. But this certainly could have been better, in my opinion.

Editorial Review:

Princess Elspeth journeys to the Vale of the Tayledras Clan to seek Mage training among the powerful Hawkbrother Adepts, only to find that she and renegade adept Darkwind must confront the malevolent magic of Ancar of Hardorn. Reprint.